1550 Munster Leaf Switzerland Death Burning at Stake
1550 Description of Switzerland
from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
The Swabian War; Burning of Dominicans in Bern; War with France;
Battle of Marignano
Two Leaves; One Woodcut Picture
Two authentic woodcut leaves from
"Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing
house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1550. Book III ("Von dem Deutschen land"), pages
dxvii-dxx (517-20).
Sebastian
Münster (1488-1552) was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and
Hebrew scholar whose Cosmographia (1544; "Cosmography") was the earliest
German description of the world and a major work
- after the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 - in the revival of
geographic thought in 16th-century Europe. Altogether, about 40 editions of the
Cosmographia appeared during 1544-1628.
Although other cosmographies predate Münster's, he is given
first place in historical discussions of this sort of publication, and
was a major influence on his subject for over 200 years.
Cosmographia contained not
only the latest maps and views of many well-known cities, but included
an encyclopaedic amount of detail about the known - and unknown - world
and undoubtedly must have been one of the most widely read books of its
time. Aside from the well-known maps and views present in the
Cosmographia (including
the first separate printed map of the Western Hemisphere),
the text is thickly sprinkled with vigorous woodcuts:
portraits of kings and princes, costumes and occupations, habits and
customs, flora and fauna, monsters and horrors.
Of about 20 German editions of the Cosmographia, the 1550 edition
is the most valued.
Click here for the title page of the 1550
German edition
(not included).
Click here for more information about Münster
and Cosmographia, including the content and
list of editions and artists
These authentic woodcut leaves from the 1550
German edition of Cosmographia are devoted to Switzerland.
The first section talks about the Swabian War.
The
fledgling ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Maximilian I (ruled
1493-1519), attempted to reestablish control throughout his domain,
which included Switzerland. Responding defensively, the
eastern Swiss cantons allied themselves with Graubünden, a group of
three communities joined together in a mini-confederation.
Maximilian joined with the Swabian League, an alliance of southern
German principalities organized to block Swiss expansion, and attacked
Graubünden in 1499. Graubünden called in the Swiss, and the Swabian War,
the last war of Swiss independence, was waged along the Rhine from Basel
to the Vorarlberg. Peace was declared at Basel on Sept. 22, 1499, and
Maximilian abandoned his plans, thus unofficially recognizing Swiss
independence.
The second section is devoted to an event that was
one of the main causes of Bern adopting the Reformation.
On the 31st of May, 1509,
four Dominicans were burned at the stake in Bern for fabricating
miracles to discredit the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the
Virgin Mary. The event was described
in Sebastian Franck's Chronica (1531):
"In the year 1509, the two Orders of the Preachers
(Dominicans) and Barefooted Friars (Franciscans) did wax hot against
one another concerning the conception of Mary. The Barefooted did hold
that she was pure from all original sin and spotless; the Preachers,
that she was conceived in original sin even as other children of men.
Now there was, much debate thereon, and at Heidelberg was there a
disputation .... In the end came it to pass that the Preachers
did devise to further their matter and opinion with false
signs and wonders."
For more reading, see
"German society at the close of the Middle Ages" (1894)
by Ernest Belfort Bax.
Page 519 contains
one woodcut picture
of burning at the stake.
See scans for more details; click image to view larger version.
The last section deals with the war with France.
In the early years of the 16th century France moved against Italy. At
first the Swiss supported France, but they later formed an alliance with
Italy. Armed encounters finally drove the French from the Po valley;
nevertheless, victory was short-lived and French troops were soon
encamped again, sheltered by the poplars of the Po.
The text describes the battle of Marignano (Sept. 13-14, 1515),
Franco-Venetian victory over Swiss mercenaries in the first Italian
campaign of Francis I of France. The battle was fought near the village of Marignano
10 miles southeast of Milan and
resulted in the French recovery of Milan and in the conclusion of the
peace treaty of Geneva (Nov. 7, 1515) between France and the Swiss
Confederation. Determined to conquer the duchy of Milan, Francis I
allied himself with Venice and crossed the Alps. The
French forces seized Novara and proceeded toward Milan, which was
defended by its Swiss allies. On September 13 the Swiss advanced against
the French position near Marignano and attacked across the marshy ground
separating the armies but withdrew somewhat by midnight. The next day,
after eight hours of inconclusive fighting, the French were reinforced
by Venetian cavalry and forced the Swiss to retreat.
Pages measure 8.4 x 12.8 inches. Margins suitable
for framing. Printed on quality laid paper.
The pages are in good condition.
Imperfections: minor staining and handling in margins.
This is a rare and exceptionally interesting historical document which
will look great with a mat and frame.
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This item is unconditionally guaranteed to be original and as described. We do not sell reproductions or
copies.
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